Press Release courtesy of Mark Pryde
The sky is the limit for Edinburgh-born diver Grace Reid according to synchro partner Tom Daley.
21-year-old Grace has recently moved down to London to train with Daley and award-winning coach Jane Figueiredo as they prepare for a busy 2018 season, starting with the Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Next year will also see the European Aquatics Championships come to Scotland as part of the first ever multi-sport Glasgow 2018 European Championships.
Edinburgh’s Royal Commonwealth Pool will host the diving competitions between 6-12 August 2018 and both Tom and Grace are expected to stage a defence of the mixed 3m synchro they won at last year’s European Aquatics Championships in London.
Success in Edinburgh could provide the springboard for further achievement and Tom is confident that Grace’s continued development will put them in a strong position for the years ahead.
Speaking at the British Swimming Awards, where he was named as Diving Athlete of the Year, Tom said: “Grace is doing amazing and it’s great now we get to train together in London and improve our mixed synchro routines.
“It’s also really exciting to see that she’s fourth in the world at the moment for the World Championships and she can improve so much further than that – so I’m excited to see where she ends up.”
Next year’s Glasgow 2018 European Championships will see six sports and 12 disciplines, including diving, combine to form one exciting multi-sport event held at world-class venues throughout Scotland.
The Championships – which run from 2-12 August 2018 – will bring some of Europe’s top athletes from Aquatics, Cycling, Golf, Gymnastics, Rowing and Triathlon to Scotland and Tom Daley believes having the support of home crowd can make the difference.
He added: “Having a European Championships, a multi-sport event, in a home country is so so exciting. The more people we can get out to support the athletes, the better the atmosphere is going to be for the spectators and all the athletes, so the better the results we’re going to get.”
“In front of a home crowd, there is a little bit more added pressure but you get that added adrenaline and the support and cheers.
“It gives you that extra oomph to know when you’re going into training and into competition that you’re going to have your friends and family there and that they’ll be able to watch.
“So it’s exciting times ahead.”